When Abergavenny resident Sara Chicken collapsed after feeling immense pain in her back she feared the worst writes Tris Astley Jones.

Blood tests were run and a week later she was diagnosed with Lymphoma, and a ‘Rugby ball shaped’ tumour was found under her diaphragm.

The news was particularly horrifying as it added to the traumatic experience of losing her mother a few months earlier.

Sara said, “It was the first time I had broken down since the death of my mother in April, I was in shock.”

After receiving the news, the staff at Nevill Hall Hospital acted fast and in July started Sara on aggressive ‘R-Chop’ chemotherapy. She was subject to six treatments every three weeks up until November.

After this, Sara received anti-body treatment until the end of December, and admits that the Christmas period was a struggle as she experienced panic attacks and anxiety.

Sara explained that family and friends kept her in a positive mind set throughout her treatment.

“I had all my friends and family supporting me throughout, which was really important, especially as I was grieving the loss of my mother.”

As a carer of her daughter Emily who has RETT syndrome, Sara has said that the workload and caring for others also allowed her to take her mind off the cancer.

Dr Parry Jones was the main consultant on Sara’s case, and she explained that she received great support and advice from the nurses at the Windsor Suite following her sickness from the extensive chemotherapy.

After the Christmas period Sara had a second PET scan in January to establish whether the cancer cells were still in her body.

Fortunately she was given the “relieving” news that she was in complete metabolic remission from the cancer.

To those diagnosed with Lymphoma, Sara has advised, “If possible, you need to keep positive, even though you are scared. Don’t think of it as a cancer, try to keep your mind away from the negative aspects and focus of the future.”

Sara has emphasised that this type of Lymphoma is ‘curable’ and that you must remember to focus in on this as a rare positive during treatment, and in her experience such things as a simple walk in the mountains can really help following the trauma of being diagnosed.

It was only after her treatment that she found out about the cancer charity ‘Bloodwise’ through an advert in a magazine.

Sara contacted Rachel Davies of Bloodwise and is now doing a walk in April along the canal from Goytre to Llanover to raise awareness for the charity.

Sara has described Bloodwise as a support group that have the ability to pair you with someone with a similar condition, or someone who has been through the same treatments that you are undertaking in order for you to have major support during a torrid time.

They advertise the charity with the slogan ‘Facing blood cancer together’ which Sara said “Couldn’t be more appropriate.”

There is a large amount of research going on into blood cancer by Bloodwise. They also run a Facebook page with information and can provide support in messages returned quickly through the page.

Sara explained, “If I had known about Bloodwise during my treatment, I think I would have been able to get through it more easily with the great support that they offer.”

Sara attends check up’s every eight weeks which, “Allow me to not worry about the cancer coming back, as checks are so regular that my mind is put at ease.”

Sara suffered with Shingles during and after her treatment, which has stopped her from returning to work at Cantref Primary School, but she will be starting back at work after the Easter break.

Sara added, “The illness really effected the whole family, but they were very supportive and my husband came with me every step of the way.”

Sara would also like to thank the Windsor Suite nurses who were very important to her during her recovery and explained that she will now look at life in a different light, after having been given a “second chance.”